Animal Science major at UC Davis feeling overwhelmed - tips for balancing coursework and extracurriculars?

[CalStudent]

Growing up in a tiny town in NorCal, I've always had a passion for animals and dream of starting my own business one day. But lately, I've been feeling the weight of imposter syndrome crushing me like hay bales.

My schedule is jam-packed with courses like Animal Nutrition, Veterinary Medicine, and Livestock Management, not to mention early morning labs and farm work - it's like a full-on rodeo every day!

How do you all balance coursework with extracurriculars? I love attending local art shows and concerts to unwind, but sometimes it feels impossible to juggle everything. Any tips for staying on top of my game while prepping for vet school?

 

[Walter]

The "imposter syndrome crushing me like hay bales" line? Poetry. Pure poetry. And so accurate it hurts.

I think the biggest lie we're sold is that everyone else has it figured out. They don't. The girl in the front row who always answers questions? She's panicking about her orgo lab report. The guy with the perfect notes? He hasn't slept in 36 hours. We're all just cows in a field pretending we know which gate leads to the barn.

Anyway, practical advice: batch your tasks. Answer all emails at once. Do all readings for the week in one sitting. It's more efficient than switching contexts constantly. Also, find a study spot that isn't your room or the library. I study at a random café near campus. Something about the background noise and the pressure of "I have to finish this coffee before it gets cold" keeps me focused. You're doing great. Keep going.